Duo unites for South

High School Football

Grayson of Costa Mesa, Truxton of Newport Harbor could be key defenders in O.C. All-Star game.

July 14, 2011|By David Carrillo Peñaloza, david.carrillo@latimes.com

(Daily Pilot File…)

DaSean Grayson and Kellon Truxton have been teammates for almost three weeks. The two have been preparing for Friday night, their final high school football game.

The game is the 52nd annual Brea Lions Club Orange County North-South All-Star one at Orange Coast College. This might not be the last time these two recent graduates play on the same field together.

Grayson and Truxton said they might team up at OCC to continue their careers. They wrapped up their final years with their respective high school teams, Grayson at Costa Mesa and Truxton at Newport Harbor, as two of the finest defensive backs in the Newport-Mesa area.

The reward for the two Daily Pilot Dream Team members is a chance to play under the lights once more in front of family, friends, and former teammates and coaches. When the game kicks off at 7:15 p.m., Grayson and Truxton said they are going to leave it all out on the field because that is the only way they know how to compete.

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Grayson and Truxton want to represent their schools well. They said they feel honored to be the lone players from their schools selected to participate in the all-star game.

"I'm practicing with guys that I've never worked out with before," Truxton said. "It's really been fun."

Truxton must have enjoyed practicing in the heat. He said he showed up to every practice at Tustin High.

Myron Miller, the South All-Star coach and former coach at Costa Mesa, has noticed Truxton's work ethic.

Truxton, a safety and wide receiver with the Sailors, expected only to contribute in the secondary, but he has also seen time at outside linebacker. With a couple of players quitting on the offensive side, the team has him lining up at receiver.

Truxton, a first-team All-Sunset League pick, showed this past fall that he was a vertical threat with the Sailors. He averaged 16.6 yards per reception and scored on touchdown passes of 75 and 66 yards.

Grayson also proved to be a playmaker whenever he touched the ball at Costa Mesa. He found the end zone five times.

Three of Grayson's touchdowns came on kickoff returns of 95, 90 and 86 yards. The other two touchdowns came as a running back, as he scored on runs of 41 and 35 yards.

Grayson, a first-team All-Orange Coast League pick, turned out to be one of the fastest players around. The South All-Stars can only benefit from Grayson's speed at cornerback and on special teams.

Truxton has heard all the talk about how the North All-Stars are the favorites. It is hard to argue with one of the reasons why the North has a great shot to end the South's two-year reign.

"So many of our guys have dropped off the team," said Truxton, who did not sound worried.

With the loss of players, Truxton just earned more responsibilities on the field. He and Grayson plan to make the most of their opportunities in their final high school game.